Bearing and bearing mounting



April 21, 1936. F. G. HUGHES BEARING AND BEARING MOUNTING Filed Feb. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l H/S ATTO @NE w April 21, 1936. F. G, HUGHES BEARING AND BEARING MOUNTING Fild Feb. 23, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @miv if /NVENTOQI FQEDEQ/CK G. HUGHES, 5v

HAS ATTOQ/VEY Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES 2,037,982 BEARING AND BEARING MOUNTING Frederick G. Hughes, Bristol, Conn., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Dela- Ware Application February 23, 1933, Serial No. 658,013

14 Claims. (Cl. 308-189) This invention relates to bearings and to bearing mountings and comprises all of the features of novelty herein disclosed. An object of the invention is to provide an improved antifriction 5 bearing and more especially one that is capable of attachment in selected ways to one of a pair of relatively rotatable members. is to provide an antifriction bearing having means of attaching it to a hub or a casing part for supporting another member in relatvely rotatable relation to such part. Another object is to provide an improved bearing, casing and shaft combination and especially wherein one of the bearing race rings becomes an integral cantilever extension of the casing or similar machine frame member. Still another object is to provide an improved double row bearing capable of being loaded internally as an incident to the mounting of a shaft thereto. Yet another ob- 20 ject is to produce a bearing race ring with a plurality of seats providing for selective attachment of one or more members thereto.

To these ends and also to improve generally upon devices of this character, the invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed. In its broader aspects, the invention is not necessarily limited to the specie structures selected for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawings in which 30 Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a rear axle, hub

and bearing combination.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a front axle, hub and bearing combination.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of a pulley, shaft and 35 bearing combination. Y

Fig. 4 'is a sectional view of a front axle, hub andbearing combination.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a gear box, shaft and bearing combination.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a casing, shaft and bearing combination.

Referring first to Fig. 3 wherein the improved bearing is shown to large scale, the numeral lll indicates a Wide one-piece outer race ring having 45 a pair of angular contact raceways I2 which face away from veach other. In the selected disclosure, the bearing is a ball bearing and the raceways have a transverse curvature of arcuate form to conform quite closely to balls I4 arranged in two rows and having suitable separators i6. Opposing raceways i8 are formed on an inner race member preferably comprising a pair of cones or inner race rings 20 which abut against one another. To hold the bearing assembledas a unit-handling structure, the inner Another object race rings 2i] are snap-assembled, that is, a rib 22 is formed on each and is of such diameter that elastic deformation of the balls is required in order to get the inner race rings into abutting relation.

The inner race rings 20 are shown mounted on a shaft 24 having a shoulder 26 abutting against the end of one of the race rings while a clamping nut 28 forces an abutment washer against the end of the other race ring. The adjacent ends of the inner race rings are so faced off that when such race rings are iirmly abutted, a predetermined internal load is placed upon the rolling elements along angular contact lines which diverge towards the bearing axis as indicated in the lower half of Fig. 3. To protect the bearings from dust and to retain lubricant, suitable seals 38 are applied to the ends of the bearings. The seals may be variously constituted but, in the selected disclosure, each comprises an angular washer 32 pressed on the cone and a pair of washers 34 and 36 carried by a groove in the outer race ring Il). One washer 34 has its outer periphery bent over the outer edge of the other washer 36 which has a cupped portion enclosing a ring of packing felt 38. The seals 30 will also hold the inner race rings from separation.

The outer race ring l has an annular attaching flange 40 projecting therefrom and provided with bolt holes. Both sides of the ange are faced off smooth and the flange is preferably spaced away from the ends of the race ring whereby peripheral seats 42 and 44 can be provided at opposite sides of the flange. In Fig. 3, clamping bolts 46 are passed through the holes of the flange 40 and through a ange or web 48 which engages the seat 44. The flange or web 48 can be a part of a frame or casing in which the shaft 24 is revoluble, or the shaft can be fixed and the web 48 be a part of a revoluble member such as a pulley U for a band saw or the like. The outer race ring is desirably recessed at 52 to lessen weight and expense, and 'the end portion 54 is desirably of smaller diameter than the seat 44 and is tapered down towards the end, thereby facilitating assembly of the bearing and its carrying member or carried member'. The seat 42 is preferably of larger diameter than the seat 44. f

In Fig. l, a reinforcing ring 68 engages the ange 40 of the bearing at the outer seat 42 and is secured to a flange 62 on a casing or tube 64 by clamping bolts 66. The casing 64 may for instance be a continuous rear axle housing or one of two short, connected tubes such as employed with independently sprung rear Wheels wherein the differential driving gearing is mounted on the frame with universal driving connections to the wheels. In the illustrated construction, the bolts 66 are also used to secure brake anchoring members 68 and 'I0 which engage the inner seat 44. Mounted in the inner race rings 20 is a sleeve or hub 'I2 having a flange 14 which is clamped by nuts '16 to a brake drum 18 and to a member which is shown as a part of a Wire-spoked wheel. The hub 'l2 has a projecting key 82 engaging a slot in a stub shaft 64 having a universal connection 86 with a drive shaft. A shoulder 88 on the stub shaft engages the end of one of the inner race rings 20 while a nut 90 provides for forcing the flange 'I4 against the end of the other inner race ring for clamping the inner race rings in the preloaded abutting relation. In this form of the invention, the bearing forms a cantilever extension of the rear axle casing 64, and the seats on both sides of the flange 40 are utilized.

In Fig. 2, a front wheel 92 of the disc type is clamped to the hub flange 14, andan abutment flange or collar 94 is provided on the stub shaft 84 for cooperation with the nut in clamping the inner race rings in preloaded abutting relation. Bolts 96 clamp the fiange 40 against an annular flange or rim 98 formed on a, steering stub axle |00 which isforked to straddle the end of a front axle |02. The bearing forms a cantilever extension of the stub axle and both sides of the flange 40 are utilized for seats.

In Fig. 4, a front axle |02 has a king-pin |04 pivotally supporting a fork |06 on a steering stub axle |08 on which the inner race rings 20 are directly seated. One r-ace ring engages a shoulder |09 and the other engages an abutment washer ||0 having a clamping nut ||2 to apply internal load to the bearing. A brake drum ||4 is clamped to one side of the ange 40 by clamping bolts ||6 having coned enlargements ||8 engaging countersunk bolt openings in thev ange 40. A plate |20 forming part of a wire-spoked wheel is clamped to the other side of the flange 40 by nuts |22. A supporting plate |24 for hydraulic brake actuating means is carried by the stub axle fork |06. In this form of the invention, the bearing is in effect the rotary hub of a wheel.

In Fig. 5, a casing or gear box |30 has an open ing with a flanged rim |32 which is clamped to the bearing flange 40 by bolts |34. A shaft |36 directly engages the inner race rings 20 and is provided with a shoulder |38 engaging one of them. A coupling member |40 engages the other race ring and is forced against it by a clamping nut |42 which produces the preloaded condition. A gear |44 on the shaft |36 engages a gear |46 revolubly mounted on a shaft |46 which is anchored to the gear box. A second shaft |50 piloted in the hollow end of the sh-aft |36 carries the usual shift gear |52. In this form of the invention, the bearing race ring |0 forms a cantilever extension of the gear box |30.

In Fig. 6, a shaft |58 directly engages the inner race rings 20 and the latter are clamped in preloaded condition between a shoulder |60 on the shaft and a nut |62. A drive pulley |64 is keyed to the upper end of the shaft which may be that of a centrifugal separator or laundry extractor. A flanged rim |66 on'a casing part |68 engages the outer seat 44 of the bearing and the flange 40 is secured to the rim by bolts |10. The casing part |68 has a parti-spherical or self aligning babbitted bearing at |12 on a support |14.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a casing, a shaft, a self-contained antifriction bearing for mounting the shaft and the casing for relative rotation and comprising inner and outer race members and rolling elements, and one of the race members being rigidly attached to they casing and forming a cantilever extension thereof; substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing having a flange, a shaft,.an -antifriction bearing for mounting the shaft and the casing for relative rotation and comprising inner and outer race members and rolling elements, and one of the race members having a ange rigidly attached to the casing flange and forming an extension of the casing; substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, a supporting casing, a shaft, an antifriction bearing for mounting the shaft and the casing for relative rotation and comprising inner and outer race members and rolling elements, one of the race rings having a flange near one end with a. peripheral seat at the outer side of the flange, the casing engaging the seat, and bolts for securing the flange to the casing with the flanged race-ring forming a rigid extension of the casing; substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, a casing, a shaft, an antifriction bearing for mounting the shaft and the casing for relative rotation and comprising inner and outer race members and two rows of rolling elements, the rows of rolling elements having a predetermined load upon angular contact lines which diverge towards the axis of the bearing, and one of the race members being rigidly attached to' the casing to form an extension thereof; substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, an axle, a self-contained antifriction bearing having inner and outer race members and rolling elements, means for rigidly securing the outer race member to the axle to form an extension thereof, a Wheel hub projecting into the inner race member, and means for securing the hub to said inner race member; substantially as described.

6. A self contained bearing unit and casing extension comprising a race ring, two rows of rolling elements, and a pair of abutting race rings, the pair of race rings having their engaging ends so related to their raceways that a predetermined load is applied to the rolling elements when the race rings are clamped together, and said first mentioned race ring having an apertured attaching flange adapted to be bolted to a casing with the race ring forming a cantilever extension of the casing; substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character described, in combination, a casing and a self-contained bearing unit and casing extension, the bearing unit comprising an outer race ring, two rows of rolld ing elements, and a pair of inner race rings, the outer race ring having an attaching flange and a peripheral seat at the side of the flange, the casing fitting the seat, and means for rigidly securing the bearing flange to the casing with the outer race ring forming a cantilever extension 0f the casing; substantially as described.

8. In a device of the character described, in combination, an axle and a self-contained anti- Ifriction bearing structure, the bearing having its outer race ring provided with a flange, and means for securing the flange to the axle in a position 10. A self-contained bearing-unit and casing 4 extension comprising outer and inner race rings and rolling elements, the outer race ring having an apertured attaching flange projecting outwardly at a point spaced from the ends to provide peripheral seats at opposite sides of the ange, a casing fitting over one of the seats,

brake members fitting over'the other seat, and bolts for securing the apertured ange to the seated members; substantially as described.

11. In a device of the character described, in combination, a casing, and a self-contained bearing unit and casing extension, the bearing unit comprising outer and inner race members and rolling elements, the outer race member being rigidly secured to the casing in a position to form an extension of the casing, a hub member projecting into the inner race member, and means for clamping the hub member to the inner race member; substantially as described.

12. In a device of the character described, in combination, a casing, and a self-contained bearing unit and casing extension, the bearing unit comprising outer and inner race members and rolling elements, the outer race member being rigidly secured to the casing in a position to form an extension of the casing, a hub sleeve projecting into the inner race member, a-stub shaft passingthrough the hub sleeve, and `,means for clamping the inner race member to the stub shaft and the hub sleeve; substantially as described.

13. In a device of the character described, in combination, a casing, and a self-contained bearing unit and casing extension, the bearing unit cbmprising outer and inner race members and rolling elements, the outer race, member being rigidly secured to the casing in a position to form an extension of the casing. a. hub sleeve projecting into the inner race member and having an abutment, a' stub shaft passing through the hub sleeve and having an abutment, and a nut on the shaft for forcing the abutments against opposite ends of the inner race member; substantially as described.

14. A self-contained bearing unit and axle extension, the bearinghaving an outer race ring, two rows of rolling elements, and a pair of abutting race rings, means for rigidly securing the outer race ring directlyto the end of the yaxle as an extension thereof, a hub member extending into the inner race rings, and means for clamping the hub member to the inner race rings while making the inner race rings abut with the rolling elements under a predetermined load; substantially as described.

FREDERICK G. HUGHES. 

